Morphological and Cytochemical Features of Adult T-Cell Lymphoma-Leukaemia

Abstract

T-cell malignancies may be recognised in several distinctive forms: T-lymphoblastic leukaemia and lymphoblastic lymphoma which are proliferations of immature T cells, and a heterogeneous group of proliferative disorders with a mature T-cell phenotype, T-chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, T-prolymphocytic leukaemia and the cutaneous T-cell lymphomas [1]. Within this spectrum of diseases, a distinctive T-cell leukaemia-lymphoma affecting black adults of West Indian/Caribbean origin has been recognised by our group [2] and designated adult T-cell leukaemialymphoma (ATLL). The salient features of the disease include its occurrence in black West Indians, the presence of high titres of antibody against the p 24 structural core protein of human T-cell leukaemia-lymphoma virus (HTLV), severe hypercalcaemia without bone lesions, lymphadenopathy, high WBC and short survival. Immunologically the malignant cells are of mature post-thymic phenotype (E +, TdT−, OKT3+, OKT6−), and in those cases tested with OKT4 and OKT8 monoclonal antibodies, of helper/inducer phenotype (OKT4+, OKT8−).